10 Reviews: Best Ice Packs for Hiking (Mar 2024)

These ice packs will keep your food and drinks cold and fresh for as long as you need it

A. Wahyu by A. Wahyu · updated on · price $9.98 - $34.99 · 268 views

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Comparison Table

Let's jump into the specs!
Product Image
1
10 Reviews: Best Ice Packs for Hiking (Mar  2024): For compact bags
Fit & Fresh
2
10 Reviews: Best Ice Packs for Hiking (Mar  2024): For short hike
Rubbermaid
3
10 Reviews: Best Ice Packs for Hiking (Mar  2024):  Stable temperature
Igloo
4
10 Reviews: Best Ice Packs for Hiking (Mar  2024): Freeze quickly
Fit & Fresh
5
10 Reviews: Best Ice Packs for Hiking (Mar  2024): Innovative design
TOURIT
6
10 Reviews: Best Ice Packs for Hiking (Mar  2024): Built to last
Arctic Ice
7
10 Reviews: Best Ice Packs for Hiking (Mar  2024):  UV-protective exterior
Pelican
8
10 Reviews: Best Ice Packs for Hiking (Mar  2024): Dry gel mixture
Cooler Shock
9
10 Reviews: Best Ice Packs for Hiking (Mar  2024):  Break-resistant
YETI
10
10 Reviews: Best Ice Packs for Hiking (Mar  2024): Rugged and reliable
Orion Coolers
Product Name XL Cool Coolers Blue Ice Maxcold Cool Coolers Vapor Ice Pack Chillin' Brew Cooler Ice Pack Reusable Ice Pack ICE Frostbite
Features For compact bags For short hike Stable temperature Freeze quickly Innovative design Built to last UV-protective exterior Dry gel mixture Break-resistant Rugged and reliable
Color 6 options Blue Blue Clear 6 options Blue White Silver Blue White
Set Set of 4 Set of 2 Set of 1 Set of 4 Set of 8 Set of 1 Set of 1 Set of 5 Set of 1 Set of 1
Weight 2.4 lbs 11.2 oz 14.11 oz 1 lbs 4.21 lbs 1.5 lbs 2.09 lbs 1 lbs 2.2 lbs 5 lbs
Dimensions 7 x 0.5 x 4.75 in 4.8 x 2.6 x 2.8 in 4.33 x 0.79 x 7.87 in 5.25 x 3 x 5.5 in 9 x 6.4 x 2.4 in (pkg) 6.75 x 1.25 x 7.75 in 5.7 x 5.7 x 1.1 in ‎6.5 x 7.5 x 1 in 10.6 x 8 x 1.7 in 10.9 x 8.7 x 1.85 in
price $9.98 $10.32 $14.99 $14.99 $19.54 $19.73 $19.95 $27.95 $29.98 $34.99
Buy at view product on Fit & Fresh view product on Amazon view product on eBay view product on Amazon view product on eBay view product on Igloo view product on Amazon view product on eBay view product on Fit & Fresh view product on Amazon view product on eBay view product on Tourit view product on Amazon view product on eBay view product on Arctic Ice view product on Amazon view product on eBay view product on Pelican view product on Amazon view product on eBay view product on Cooler Shock view product on Amazon view product on eBay view product on Yeti view product on Amazon view product on eBay view product on Jackson Kayak view product on Amazon view product on eBay

Think about going on a hike with your family. You have successfully climbed a really challenging trail, and from the top of a hill, you can see as far as your eyes can see. You suddenly wish you could have a huge, chilled glass of water right now. But you’re a long way from home or the nearest convenience shop. Isn’t it unfortunate? This is no longer the case; all you need is a nice ice pack to solve the issue and satisfy your thirst. Find the best options in the list below!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Just in case you wonder...

How much should I spend on ice packs?

The majority of ice packs for lunch boxes are priced between $2 and $20. For the best value possible, consumers often purchase multi-packs of ice packs that include somewhere between three and six ice packs in each package.

What to look for in ice packs?

1. Freeze time: How long it takes an ice pack to freeze and how long it remains frozen.
2. Size: Do you want huge ice packs to chill a large cooler of food, or small ice packs to fit in lunch boxes?
3. Flexibility: While hard-sided packs are useful for keeping the temperature down, they may not fit if you have oddly shaped items in your cooler. Soft-sided packs are less robust than those with rigid plastic casings and could be punctured or burst when they melt.

What is the ice pack made out of?

Ice packs loaded with a gel that freezes have been highly popular for many years. Gel packs are typically safe, but if one breaks apart and your kid consumes any of the gel, they may experience stomach pain. There are also water-filled ice packs available if you want a more natural solution. These are exactly what they sound like; sealed, reusable ice packs filled with water. It freezes normally within its covering, and if it spills, it will not harm your kid.

Why should I use ice packs?

– Ice packs can keep food and beverages cooler for many hours or all day.
– In a pinch, an ice pack can be used as a medical ice pack.
– Ice packs provide excellent value for money since they can be used for several years.
– Many ice packs are lightweight and will not add bulk or weight to your cooler bag.

10 Reviews: Best Ice Packs for Hiking (Mar 2024)

Here are the best ice packs for hiking
Fit & Fresh XL Cool Coolers - Best Ice Packs for Hiking: For compact bags
https://www.amazon.com/

1.
Fit & Fresh
XL Cool Coolers

For compact bags

price from
$9.98
Our opinion:

Slim-style ice packs keep foods and drinks chilled without taking up a lot of cooler space. The XL ice packs from Fit and Fresh offer a flexible design that enables you to put them on the bottom and sides of your lunch bag or cooler. The ice packs are made of BPA-free plastic. Since each cooler pack is just 0.5-inch thick, it’s a good choice for compact coolers. To boost cooling power, use one for smaller bags and stack the packs for bigger coolers.

Promising review:

These were perfect in my daypack cooler! We would go out hiking and leave a cooler in the car full of sandwiches and fruit. This kept it all nice and cool. No melted ice to deal with.

by D.

Color 6 options
Set Set of 4
Weight 2.4 lbs
Dimensions 7 x 0.5 x 4.75 in
Rubbermaid Blue Ice - Best Ice Packs for Hiking: For short hike
https://www.amazon.com/

2.
Rubbermaid
Blue Ice

For short hike

price from
$10.32
Our opinion:

These mini ice packs come in a package of four and are packed with a freezable blue gel that remains cold longer than regular ice. Because of their small size, they are ideal for lunch bags, boxes, or backup packs for a large cooler. It’s worth noting that these ice packs are quite small, measuring just 4.8 x 5.2 x 2.8 inches each. This makes them ideal for stuffing on either side of a sandwich or salad, but since they are so little, they don’t keep frozen for very long. Take this on a short hike!

Promising review:

I have had some of these for at least 5 years. Recently I just bought another set. I find them to last much longer than ice. The largest benefit is that they can be used for various things due to their shape. Example being applying them to injuries and the just using them to keep food cold.

by Jesse

Color Blue
Set Set of 2
Weight 11.2 oz
Dimensions 4.8 x 2.6 x 2.8 in
Igloo Maxcold  - Best Ice Packs for Hiking:  Stable temperature
https://www.amazon.com/

3.
Igloo
Maxcold

Stable temperature

price from
$14.99
Our opinion:

The Igloo Ice Block is made with a specialized “ultra-therm” gel to keep its temperature stable for several hours. You can use it on its own or as a backup to enhance the ice retention time in your cooler. We appreciate that it’s reusable, so you can store it in the freezer after it’s thawed and ready to use the next time. The exterior plastic is also robust enough to endure knocks and bumps without shattering, making it a terrific choice for camping, boating, or hiking.

Promising review:

I'm glad that these actually fit in the grooves of the Igloo 50 quart chest. Act as a seperator to keep things from sliding around. Of course, these will work in anything that they fit into as well ?

by JPNSCC

Color Blue
Set Set of 1
Weight 14.11 oz
Dimensions 4.33 x 0.79 x 7.87 in
Fit & Fresh Cool Coolers  - Best Ice Packs for Hiking: Freeze quickly
https://www.amazon.com/

4.
Fit & Fresh
Cool Coolers

Freeze quickly

price from
$14.99
Our opinion:

Because these slim ice packs are stackable, you can use them in a larger cooler for extra effect. Each pack features grooves molded onto the sides to allow for a tight stacking and saving of space. The exterior case is really resistant to knocks and bumps and will not fracture with regular usage. These Fit & Fresh Ice Packs freeze quickly due to their thinness. You can freeze them late at night and they’ll be ready to go in the morning.

Promising review:

These are the perfect size ice packs that don’t weigh down everything you’re carrying. I was able to fit 2 of these ice packs perfectly in my small sling bag for a hike and they kept my lunch cold for about 2 hours.

by Mary

Color Clear
Set Set of 4
Weight 1 lbs
Dimensions 5.25 x 3 x 5.5 in
TOURIT Vapor Ice Pack - Best Ice Packs for Hiking: Innovative design
https://www.amazon.com/

5.
TOURIT
Vapor Ice Pack

Innovative design

price from
$19.54
Our opinion:

This set of eight ice packs, shaped like a tall water bottle, is very adaptable. It is made of solid gel and is one of the finest ice packs for keeping your meals and drinks cold and fresh for extended periods of time. Because of its thin and innovative design, it can fit into small spaces or pouches such as a child’s lunchbox or a small cooler. Allow these reusable, BPA-free, and non-toxic ice packs to freeze for at least 8 hours or until totally frozen before using.

Promising review:

I use these things in my backpack cooler for the beach and hikes but also comes in handy to keep inflammation down!

by e.gonegin

Color 6 options
Set Set of 8
Weight 4.21 lbs
Dimensions 9 x 6.4 x 2.4 in (pkg)
Arctic Ice Chillin' Brew - Best Ice Packs for Hiking: Built to last
https://www.amazon.com/

6.
Arctic Ice
Chillin' Brew

Built to last

price from
$19.73
Our opinion:

The Arctic Ice Long Lasting Ice Pack has a slim profile and a big surface area for simple packing and effective cooling. They are ideal for keeping your beverages and meals cool all day. These ice packs are reusable and can be frozen up to 100,000 times, ensuring that they will last you for many years. They feature a tough exterior shell that is UV-resistant and can survive extensive usage, making them excellent for camping, trekking, or road trips.

Promising review:

[...] We always take a cooler along with us so we have cold drinks & lunch after hiking and this kept the drinks as cold or colder than past weeks when we used ice. Plus with this there's no water mess at the bottom of the cooler. Wish we would have bought this sooner.

by Davester40

Color Blue
Set Set of 1
Weight 1.5 lbs
Dimensions 6.75 x 1.25 x 7.75 in
Pelican Cooler Ice Pack  - Best Ice Packs for Hiking:  UV-protective exterior
https://www.amazon.com/

7.
Pelican
Cooler Ice Pack

UV-protective exterior

price from
$19.95
Our opinion:

This ice pack is a useful companion for your coolers and terrific addition to your outdoor adventures. It quickly chills the contents of your cooler and keeps it fresh for long periods of time. It’s custom-made to accommodate Pelican coolers and has a UV-protective exterior. It also has a one-of-a-kind dual-grip design for comfortable handling. This reusable ice pack is also BPA-free, non-toxic, and FDA-approved for food use, making it safe for any use.

Promising review:

It’s nice being able to put these in the freezer and have them cold before loading up your ice chest. It also helps to freeze any meat or other items you won’t need right away. They fit in easily and last for a while.

by Marcus

Color White
Set Set of 1
Weight 2.09 lbs
Dimensions 5.7 x 5.7 x 1.1 in
Cooler Shock Reusable Ice Pack - Best Ice Packs for Hiking: Dry gel mixture
https://www.amazon.com/

8.
Cooler Shock
Reusable Ice Pack

Dry gel mixture

price from
$27.95
Our opinion:

The exterior of these soft packs is constructed of a flexible, multi-layer aluminum and polyethylene material that securely holds a small amount of dry gel mixture. To use them for the first time, just fill them with water, store them in the freezer for 12 hours, and then reuse them as many times as you wish. The Cooler Shock Freeze Packs, with a chilling temperature of 18ºF (-7.8ºC), are meant to remain cold for around 8 hours in the heat, making them ideal for shorter day excursions.

Promising review:

These are wonderful!! So happy we got them for our hikes out west!! Glad I read the directions well as I would never have thought I might need an iron to get these sealed. We did not do it that way.

by TRiCK STACY

Color Silver
Set Set of 5
Weight 1 lbs
Dimensions ‎6.5 x 7.5 x 1 in
YETI ICE  - Best Ice Packs for Hiking:  Break-resistant
https://www.amazon.com/

9.
YETI
ICE

Break-resistant

price from
$29.98
Our opinion:

This YETI reusable cooler ice pack is a fantastic choice for keeping big and small coolers cold. It has a robust, break-resistant outer shell with a hole in the middle that keeps the pack from blowing up when frozen and shortens the freezing time. This YETI ICE pack, with a freezing point of 28 degrees Fahrenheit, will keep your cooler cooled at a lower temperature than ice. This ice pack will last through numerous shippings, hiking, and backyard parties.

Promising review:

The absolute best ice pack I've ever had!! I work an average of 10-12hrs a night with a 1hr commute each way. Had one night I worked almost 18hrs. It lasted the whole time, kept everything in my Yeti Roadie cold with only a small amount of melt down from the ice pack.

by Aymi

Color Blue
Set Set of 1
Weight 2.2 lbs
Dimensions 10.6 x 8 x 1.7 in
Orion Coolers Frostbite - Best Ice Packs for Hiking: Rugged and reliable
https://store.jacksonadventures.com/

10.
Orion Coolers
Frostbite

Rugged and reliable

price from
$34.99
Our opinion:

The Orion Frostbite Arctic Ice is a rugged and reliable ice pack suited for larger coolers due to its enormous size and 28ºF (2ºC) freezing point. These extra-large ice packs are made in the United States and are designed to be piled on the bottoms and sides of a hard-sided cooler for increased cold retention. They can be frozen in 8 to 10 hours, allowing you to freeze them at night and utilize them the following day.

Color White
Set Set of 1
Weight 5 lbs
Dimensions 10.9 x 8.7 x 1.85 in

Conclusion

Ice packs will keep everything in your cooler nice and cold, whether it’s a short overnight camping trip or a whole day in the blazing sun. Any of the types we’ve seen in our best ice pack reviews are excellent options, but the perfect one for you will depend on your specific needs. So, good luck with your shopping!

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